Today General Mills was named one of the top 10 best-regarded companies in America, according to the annual 2009 Harris Interactive Reputation Quotient (RQ) Study, which measures the reputations of the 60 most visible companies in the U.S.

Since General Mills debuted in the Harris Interactive RQ Study in 2002, the company has ranked in the top 10 in each of the past eight years.

“In addition to the slightly more positive reputation environment, we see a very different overall view of how companies are being evaluated and perceived this year,” comments Robert Fronk, senior vice president, Global Practice Lead, Reputation Management at Harris Interactive. “In last year’s study, we saw companies that provided value and a sense of comfort getting strong overall reputation ratings. This year, we see overall corporate governance, performance and leadership driving positive reputation perceptions.”

The recognition follows many other honors given to General Mills in the past year, including “World’s 50 Most Admired Companies,” Fortune magazine; “100 Best Places to Work For,” Fortune magazine; “Global Top Companies for Leaders,” Fortune magazine; “100 Best Corporate Citizens,” Corporate Responsibility magazine; “100 Best Companies for Working Mothers,” Working Mother magazine; “40 Best Companies for Diversity,” Black Enterprise magazine, and many others.

About General MillsOne of the world's leading food companies, General Mills operates in more than 100 countries and markets more than 100 consumer brands, including Cheerios, Häagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Old El Paso, Progresso, Cascadian Farm, Muir Glen, and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, General Mills had fiscal 2009 global net sales of US$15.9 billion, including the company’s $1.2 billion proportionate share of joint venture net sales.